55, isnt sure what hed be doing if he werent coaching.He has his

55, isnt sure what hed be doing if he werent coaching.He has his

Minutes are the coin of the realm in fantasy basketball. Just as we crave snaps, targets and touches for our fantasy football assets, when assessing fantasy value on the hardwood, we look for opportunity in the form of minutes, the most important factor when it comes to the potential for statistical success.While most NBA teams have identified their starters by this late into the preseason, we still find some battles for meaningful roles and minutes underway on the doorstep of the new NBA season. In this piece, we canvas the league for some of the most relevant position battles for fantasy purposes.Depth chart nuggets in DenverThe Denver Nuggets backcourt could offer some value for fantasy investors. Will Barton broke out with helpful numbers at a shallow shooting guard position last season, while Gary Harris was useful in deeper formats, thanks to a rich allotment of minutes. Harris is currently recovering from a partially torn groin muscle, which has led to increased preseason exposure for rookie combo guard Jamal Murray.Nuggets coach Michael Malone recently said of Murray, Were going to have him play on the ball and off the ball. Hes got to learn all the spots on the floor. Thats what a good point guard should do anyway.We identified Murray as a deep sleeper candidate this season, but its even more intriguing to consider that he could challenge an inefficient Emmanuel Mudiay for time at point guard, something Barton and Harris cant claim. The Nuggets ranked 25th in the league in 3-point percentage last season, at just 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. Murray shot nearly 41 percent from deep at Kentucky last year, while Mudiay hit only 31.9 percent of his 3-point attempts as a rookie. If we can mix some assist upside into Murrays emerging fantasy profile, Mudiays shaky fantasy stock takes another hit.Questions about whether Denver could get consistent minutes for their tandem of talented bigs,?Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic, are being answered this preseason, as the team is starting both in a uniquely big frontcourt. Last season, this pairing played together on just 184 possessions and produced a lowly offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) of just 97.6, with a net rating of negative-7.1 points. This preseason, the tandem has a 103.4 offensive rating and a plus-6.8 net rating in 117 possessions together.Denver seems to be making it clear that both could sustain minutes and value this season. Nurkic is second in the NBA this preseason, with 11.5 boards per game, and Jokic ranks 11th, at 7.7 per game. There should be enough exposure for Jokic to realize his awesome offensive upside, while Nurkic offers a cheap path to a double-double at a shallow center position. What was assumed to be a key battle has turned into a key pairing, as both bigs appear viable as fantasy assets, thanks to the teams creative deployment.Meaningful minutes in Miamis backcourtThe Miami Heat were essentially forced to speculatively pay a big price to secure Tyler Johnson during a unique NBA offseason that saw marginal talents cash in across the league. Johnson has responded with a strong preseason, recently scoring at least 14 points in three straight games while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. He has showcased solid 3-point metrics and nearly one steal and three assists per game over the exhibition season. Johnson will likely be Miamis sixth man to start the season, a role that could prove rewarding across several categories.The Heat will also find stable minutes for shooting guards Dion Waiters and Wayne Ellington. Waiters has hit half his attempts from beyond the arc this preseason, and both he and Ellington are averaging 25 minutes per game for a team in need of scoring pop now that?Dwyane Wade?is?in Chicago. Ellington ranks behind only?Klay Thompson?of the Warriors in 3-pointers made and attempted this preseason, so he could be a fine shooting specialist to target in deeper leagues.For patient investors in deeper leagues, shares of an injured Josh Richardson could also pay off down the line, as he hit 46.1 percent from 3-point range last season and could emerge as the long-term statistical winner at the 2 for Miami.Small forward battle on the BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers were major check writers this offseason, as they gave both Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner?deals worth more than $70 million and retained?Maurice Harkless for $40 million. Crabbe will remain the teams third guard and the?de facto leader of the teams second unit, but the battle at small forward between Turner and Harkless has been interesting this preseason.The winner of this position battle appears to be Harkless, as he has been a consistent starter while offering far more defensive versatility than Turner, given his ability to guard both small and power forwards. Turner could eat into Crabbes value more than anything, as both will compete for distribution duties on the second unit. Harkless claimed awesome per-36 rates last season in a quiet breakout effort for Portland; he averaged one 3-pointer, 1.2 steals and nearly a block over this adjusted production rate. With such diverse statistical potential, Harkless is a fine sleeper now that he has apparently won the starting gig for the Blazers.Philadelphias center cityThe Philadelphia 76ers have a big problem, or rather, they have the problem of having too many bigs. Theyll need to find exposure for a trio of players,?Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, who are?each best-served by playing center. Embiid is the most exciting offensive prospect of the bunch, given that he has averaged 10.3 points, nearly six rebounds and a block in just 14.2 minutes per game in the preseason.Noel could earn some time at power forward and as the small-ball center, especially as Embiid will reportedly cap out at a minutes restriction of around 25 per game to start the season. Given the combination of Embiids rising average draft position (currently going 101st overall), Im avoiding him with centers such as Nurkic and Houstons Clint Capela?able to be found in later rounds.The fantasy angle for Noel has always been his rare defensive exploits. With Embiid facing limited exposure, we think there is great profit to enjoy with the depth chart traffic driving Noels draft stock down this fall. Noel, after all, is just the fourth player in NBA history with at least 230 blocks and steals in his first two seasons. The other three names on that list are David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko. Even in the face of competition for minutes, Noels ability to fuel big block and steal rates equates to rare fantasy impact, given that these are the scarcest of statistical categories.As for Okafor, he could be the odd man out for fantasy purposes. Not only is the Duke product still on the mend from last springs knee surgery, but his high-usage, ball-dominant game also requires him to net tons of touches and minutes to produce. Its also worth noting that he offers upside only in points and rebounds, while both Embiid and Noel help their causes with their strong defensive rates. 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Cheap Nike Free Run Shoes .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Nike Free Run Shoes Cheap Online . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. PULLMAN, Wash. -- Mike Leach shunned convention a long time ago.Never mind his affinity for pirates or his politically incorrect mindset or his pass-happy Air Raid offense.If you want a dose of Mike Leach unplugged, try sitting in on one of his film sessions with his quarterbacks.Holding a remote control and munching on apple slices, Leach breaks down Washington States performance in the red zone from the previous days practice with surgical precision and sees things nobody else saw, from a glitch in a route by a receiver to a tendency of some sort that may help the Cougars on down the line.Then, without warning, almost in the same breath, really, hes on to mountain lions or how women are inherently better spellers than men, or the king of Sweden. There are also references to alkaline water and quarterback Luke Falk trying to turn his coach on to its benefits, not to mention blueberries and even Sgt. Slaughter. Yes, the former professional wrestler.You learn a lot just being around him, non-football things and football things, said Falk, yet another quarterback who has flourished in Leachs system, with 3,935 passing yards and 36 touchdowns this season. If you say any little thing in a meeting, it could spark something in his mind, any random fact that he knows. Youve got to be careful if you want to get out of the meeting early.But we do find some time to squeeze in a little football.Leach, his quirkiness surpassed only by his brilliant football mind, has found a way to squeeze out the kind of Pac-12 success at Washington State theyre not used to having on the Palouse. The No. 23 Cougars are 13-3 over their past 16 Pac-12 games dating back to last season, which is the best record in the league during that span, and they can earn their first trip to the Pac-12 championship game by defeating No. 5 Washington on Friday in one of the most anticipated Apple Cups ever. Only heightening the drama is the fact that Washington is still in the running for a College Football Playoff berth.Its not often that the eyes of the college football world descend upon the state of Washington for this late-November affair, but it also hasnt been often that Washington State plays in meaningful games this time of year. Leach has made the Cougars relevant, and he has done it his way.Moreover, he has done it, once again, at a place thats off the beaten path. Lubbock, Texas, was a sprawling metropolis compared to Pullman, Washington, which is the epitome of a small college town and tucked away on the Idaho border.Its always fun to build, and you want the challenges that go with that. Ive been at incredibly exciting places to be, said Leach, who was at Texas Tech for 10 seasons before being fired after the 2009 season.One of the things that was exciting about coming to Washington State is that we wanted to have an opportunity for our coaches and players to distinguish themselves and wanted a place that you could elevate and do something that hadnt been done for a while or, hopefully, ever.Even those closest to Leach will tell you that he can be an acquired taste. Hes gruff at times, always brutally honest, and he doesnt mind stepping on toes. Remember his rant about his team looking like a JC softball team after the Cougars dropped their first two games, including a loss to FCS foe Eastern Washington in the opener?Earlier this season, he also accused Arizona State of stealing signals and suggested local police were unfairly targeting Washington State players after three incidents involving alleged assaults by players.Thats one of the reasons we love playing for Coach Leach and respect him so much, said Gabe Marks, Washington States record-breaking senior receiver. You know exactly where you stand with him, and if you do your job, hes going to have your back.You better be able to take the truth if youre going to play for Coach Leach. Its the reason this team is so tough. How many teams would have been able to come back the way we have after those first two losses? A lot of teams would have folded. Not us. Im not worried about playing anybody. Were down to play anybody who wants to play.Its no coincidence that Leach is close with Steve Spurrier. Neither has much of a filter, and while Leach doesnt play golf, they both have been known to keep odd hours for coaches. For example, Leach might not get to the office some days until noon. Hes a renowned night owl and doesnt leave the office sometimes until 1 a.m. or later.And to the surprise of nobody, Leach has a life-sized statue of a singing pirate in his office. Leachs often repeated approach to life is to Swing Your Sword, which is also the title of his book. He said Bob and Pat Knight gave him the pirate (along with a leg lamp made famous in the movie A Christmas Story), and Leach returned the favor by giving Knight a Ulysses S. Grant sword.He was really ticked at his team, too, when I gave it to him, so the last time I saw that sword, my fingerprints were on it, and hopefully he wiped them off because I dont know what he did with that sword, joked Leach, who coached football at Texas Tech while Knight was the Red Raiders mens basketball coach.And, yes, Leach still walks to and from work on most days, no matter the hour, no matter the weather and no matter how hes feeling. Its a little more than 3 miles each way, and Leach says people do slow down occasionally late at night in their cars to make sure its him.Theyll roll down their windows and say, Coach Leach, is that you? Do you need a ride? LLeach recounted with a chuckle.ddddddddddddI tell them, No, I need the exercise.Its also his time to make most of his phone calls, and he has longed loved the outdoors. He has seen coyotes and foxes while walking home over the years. Asked if he has ever seen any cougars, he quipped, No, but I know theyre out there.Leach does his weekly radio show each week at a place in Pullman called Zeppoz. Its part bar, part bowling alley and part casino. Leach arrives every Thursday with little fanfare and is typically sporting his customary hooded sweatshirt and cargo shorts. He chats with a handful of fans afterward, might have a beer and then hoofs it back home across the Pullman countryside.Even when its snowing.I just put on my snow gear and trudge through, he said.Leach isnt just demanding on the football field. Hes a stickler for his players excelling in the classroom as well, and the results speak for themselves. The Washington State football team recorded a four-year average APR score of 965 the most recent academic year, an improvement from previous years score of 951, which until this year had been Washington States highest four-year average. In fact, each of Washington States past four APR averages have been the highest for the program, all coming under Leach.One of the biggest misnomers about Leach is that because he runs an Air Raid system on offense and throws the ball so much, he runs a finesse program. Second-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch found out pretty quickly that nothing could be further from the truth.He wants a tough football team, Grinch said. When you see an offense like this, you assume finesse. I know I did. But you go back to Mike and his background. Youre talking about a guy from Wyoming, and hes not a football guy in terms of playing the game. Hes a quarterback guy and wants to throw it. Thats just his philosophy in terms of how to move the football. Thats not his philosophy in terms of what he wants.He wants tough, freaking guys, and hes hard on the guys that way.The only thing Leach abhors more than finger-pointing and excuses is political correctness. Hes a friend and supporter of Donald Trump and sent him a text the day after the election, congratulating him and telling the president-elect he was ready to be his Secretary of Offense.Leach, who doesnt hold back on his team, said the country would be better off if people could speak freely.Wed be a lot better. A lot more problems would be solved, Leach said. What weve done in this country is we value not offending anyone, even one individual, over solving big problems for masses of people. Weve diverted all of our attention from solving problems to searching for little offenses and not even discussing problems because somebody might be offended. Its the most counterproductive thing in the world. Its a historical disgrace and sad. I hope that changes some with Trump.No, Leach isnt campaigning for a position in Trumps cabinet. For one, he has unfinished business at Washington State.Not only would a win over Washington give Washington State a chance to win its first Pac-12 championship since 2002, it would give the Cougars 14 Pac-12 wins over the past two years. Theyve never won more than 13 during a two-year stretch in school history.Washington State has invested in the football program, too, something that hasnt gone unnoticed by Leach. Martin Stadium was remodeled, including the addition of premium seating, in time for the 2012 season, while a new football operations building was ready for the 2014 season. All told, Washington State spent $140 million on the upgrades.Were an evolving program and still are to some degree, said Leach, dismissing the notion that the Cougars werent on many peoples radar when he arrived in 2012 on the heels of eight straight seasons without a winning record.Weve just got to make sure were on our own radar. Its an exciting place to go to school, to begin with. Anything we do, people here will remember forever. This conference is full of great places, but theyre typically urban places. You might have the game of your life, and you go down the street at those places, and they dont even know you had a game.Here, everybody knows, and thats exciting.Leach has been a hit with the fans. Tom and Linda Nihoul own a business in Spokane and are longtime donors and fans. Theyve missed fewer than 10 home games over the past 40 years. They went on a fishing trip with Leach last summer to Elfin Cove, Alaska, along with some other donors and said he was the life of the party.I can still see him there on the boat, with a big chew, holding a Rainier beer in one hand and studying his Spanish lesson in the other hand, Linda said. He was learning Spanish at the time, and wed talk about everything, some football, but a lot more than just football. Thats what makes him so interesting. Were glad hes our coach and glad hes not just like all the other coaches.Leach, 55, isnt sure what hed be doing if he werent coaching.He has his law degree and said the easy answer would be practicing law somewhere.But as time has evolved, maybe Id write more, said Leach, who reads at least 12 books a year. Maybe Id be an artist. It would also be fun to be a filmmaker and make a film from start to finish.If the Cougars win the Apple Cup on Friday for the first time since the 2012 season, his first film might be a given. Cheap NFL JerseysWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysJerseys From ChinaWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL JerseysCheap Jerseys ' ' '